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hardware OS4   hardware OS4 : ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
   posted by ssolie on 21-Jul-2006 15:44:16 (10165 reads)
ACK Software Controls has continued beavering away at their projects while Amiga fanatics continue the agonizing wait. If you have any questions or concerns, come join us in the #amigaworld channel for an IRC chat with the designer himself. Unless of course you enjoy wasting your days in web forums with yet more people that don't know any more than you do.



With that in mind, we have the following snippet of info. regarding the CPU module design rationale from a recent forum posting to wet your whistle. This is the kind of stuff that is discussed live in the #amigaworld IRC channel:
Quote:

Here is just a quick couple of notes (in no particular order):

1) Website will be up and running when products are available for retail.
2) The PowerMac Meg-Array connector pin-out is propietary and not readily available, believe me I have tried that route.
3) AmigaOne owners need CPUs and the general desire from most people I communicated with want upgradeability.
4) The other aspect of the CPU module is from a financial perspective. Putting the CPU on the motherboard adds significant upfront costs to a motherboard run. I can inventory a much larger run of motherboards without CPUs and build CPUs as necessary.
5) It wasn't that difficult to get the PV TL working with the common CPU module. That issue has been resolved. Original AmigaOne CPU modules will work with the PV TL at 133MHz FSB and the 7448 CPU modules will work @ 200MHz FSB. Please note that the main intent was that people who invest in the 7448 modules have an upgrade path. Similarly, it allows for people to move up from the AmigaOne boards at a lower cost to the end consumer.

Adam Kowalczyk

ACK Software Controls, Inc.


The Java-based web client is on the right-hand side of the main AW page. WookieChat is available from OS4Depot. There are lots of other IRC clients for all platforms.
    

STORYID: 3201
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samo79 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 22-Jul-2006 16:15:44
#21 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 13-Feb-2003
Posts: 3505
From: Italy, Perugia

@Smithy

Quote:
For those of us with no AmigaOnes and broken A1200s


Hope that you can continue to develop Paihia ..


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billt 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 22-Jul-2006 16:17:13
#22 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 24-Oct-2003
Posts: 3205
From: Maryland, USA

Quote:
which means you more or less need to buy Apple to get your hands on it, and thus no one outside Apple knows how different they are...


From what I remember reading on here, ACK figured out the AmigaOne pin connections by probing dead CPU cards. One could erpeat that operation wiht a Mac CPU card to figure out how it's wired up to the connector. But someone (maybe ACK, maybe not, can't remember) had mentioned that a Mac adaptor would be akward to mount in a stable way with the CPU card on top of that. It'd probably also make timing more finicky, which we'd need to worry about with an already very picky northbridge chip. It might could be done, but for these reasons I don't blame anyone for avoiding such a project.


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RWO 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 22-Jul-2006 17:07:18
#23 ]
Regular Member
Joined: 8-Mar-2003
Posts: 457
From: Denmark

hmm just wondering, is every product being worked on in parallel or first the cpu modules then PV LT and so on?

RWO


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number6 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 22-Jul-2006 17:29:59
#24 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 25-Mar-2005
Posts: 11588
From: In the village

@RWO

Quote:
hmm just wondering, is every product being worked on in parallel or first the cpu modules then PV LT and so on?

Mostly in parallel. (various reasons why)
Releases of these products, though, will be somewhat staggered.

#6


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jack 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 22-Jul-2006 20:56:59
#25 ]
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Joined: 19-Aug-2003
Posts: 650
From: Israel

@ssolie:

Thanks for the snippet.

As to irc part -- I'm in a bit singular situation, the only internet access I have is through the campus, and they firewalled out the irc So I'll keep on agonizing for the while..

I'll try to get some info from Rose.


Jack.


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ssolie 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 23-Jul-2006 0:33:57
#26 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 10-Mar-2003
Posts: 2755
From: Alberta, Canada

@ChrisH
Quote:
Yawn, it seems ACK is back to teasing us...

This "news" is my own idea and Adam knew nothing about it.

Quote:
...to still not post any pics...

So a useless picture is somehow more valuable than chatting with the board designer/builder directly. Whatever.


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CodeSmith 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 23-Jul-2006 10:00:17
#27 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 8-Mar-2003
Posts: 3045
From: USA

@ssolie

I believe that the problem is that talk is cheap, and we've all been fooled a lot of times already.

I'm not saying that Adam is doing this, but imagine a prankster who gets a kick out of stringing people along. This guy could be putting out tidbits of completely made up information in forums and IRC, a small hint every couple of weeks, enough to prevent interest from completely waning. When this person is asked for a progress report, they say they will provide a demo, then pull out at the last minute. They get asked for pictures of prototypes that are supposedly in production, and again promises are made and a last-minute "hitch" prevents the pictures from appearing (because there's nothing to photograph, the guy made it all up).

As you can see, from the outside looking in there is no difference between this imaginary prankster and Adam. That is why people keep asking for photographs, and it's really hurting his image to not provide any. This sort of secrecy works for Apple and Google because they already have a reputation for providing results, but in ACK's case (and Troika's) there's nothing to differentiate them from the likes of Merlacia, iWin, etc etc etc

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deakmann 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 23-Jul-2006 13:23:32
#28 ]
Regular Member
Joined: 20-Mar-2003
Posts: 360
From: Unknown

@ all

I really can`t understand why so many of you are bitching against Adam.

Yes we have all been let down many times in the past sometimes by people
with the best intentions and sometimes by pranksters but please remember
that even those hardware projects which have seen the light of day have been
months if not years late Power Up and the A1 boards come to mind.

I`m sure as an enthusiatic developer it`s easy to underestimate the scale of
the challenge when producing new hardware or software for that matter just
look at OS4.

Adam is no fraud , he was involved in redesiging the Micro A1 and has made
a substansial financial gamble by already ordering edge connectors for
the PowerVixen, please give the guy a chance or risk him becomming pissed of
with the community and moving on.

Personally I think Adam is VERY brave taking this task on , if everything goes
to plan he could be seen as a saviour but it`s a fine line between that and
ending up hated (like Eyetech , which is extremely unfair) and hugely out of
pocket.

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Toni 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 23-Jul-2006 13:30:41
#29 ]
Member
Joined: 13-Apr-2005
Posts: 29
From: Switzerland

@ deakmann

Couldn't agree more.

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Helge 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 23-Jul-2006 13:48:54
#30 ]
Cult Member
Joined: 10-Jul-2006
Posts: 689
From: Norway

Couldn't agree more with you too, Darkmann. People must stop bitching at Adam. He is doing a great job, and i'm very happy to see that he is continuing his projects People bitching at Adam can go jump in the lake! I am one of many who love Adam and the work he does
Yes, he is very brave doing it all alone. That should be respected completely I think many of the people bitching at him are JEALOUS because they can't do it themselves, either because the lack of money and/or knowledge and experience to do it. Adam has all that. His ongoing projects and what has been told are true edvidences of that...


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ikir 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 23-Jul-2006 19:06:34
#31 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 18-Dec-2002
Posts: 5647
From: Italy

@deakmann
I completely agree


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Moxee 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 23-Jul-2006 20:41:29
#32 ]
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Joined: 20-Aug-2003
Posts: 6291
From: County Yakima, WA State, USA

@ deakmann

Quote:

I really can`t understand why so many of you are bitching against Adam.


I do not understand the bitching either, but I don't think it is "many of you". I think it is a few critics who are very vocal. I don't think they are happy unless they are constantly stiring the pot.

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CodeSmith 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 23-Jul-2006 21:16:02
#33 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 8-Mar-2003
Posts: 3045
From: USA

There *is* a problem with the "vocal minority" (that I suspect I'm being lumped with here), but the situation right now is leading us to a path where, when someone finally does sell a board capable of running OS4, there will be no-one left to write pro software or sell hardware addons for it (other than ACK or Troika).

Sure, we have OS4Depot for software, but forgive me for suspecting that we're never going to see anything like Wordworth appearing there. We need people who are financially motivated to create the more complicated types of software. This is even more true for hardware, because (as we've seen from posts by the more technical posters here), creating a modern motherboard is not exactly easy to do, and there's also the thing that you can't just give hardware away like you can software - it takes money, equipment and expertise to build a circuit board even if you already have all the plans.

The solution to this is so obvious (ACK and Troika getting rid of the uncertainty by putting some pictures online or showing a prototype, even if it's not working right) that it almost makes me believe that they are deliberately not doing anything to counter the FUD, perhaps in the belief that they will profit from it by inheriting Eyetech's monopoly, by virtue of being the only ones left. Problem is, they may well end up being the only ones left.

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ssolie 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 23-Jul-2006 23:49:30
#34 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 10-Mar-2003
Posts: 2755
From: Alberta, Canada

@jack
Quote:
As to irc part -- I'm in a bit singular situation, the only internet access I have is through the campus, and they firewalled out the irc So I'll keep on agonizing for the while..

Hey, no problem. At least you are not one of those lazy skeptics in their ivory tower too lazy to even try.

You should also keep in mind that really important stuff will come out as news (i.e. shipping product) so you'll only be missing the play-by-play.


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ssolie 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 24-Jul-2006 0:00:26
#35 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 10-Mar-2003
Posts: 2755
From: Alberta, Canada

@CodeSmith
Come to the IRC channel and challenge Adam yourself. He is a big boy and can handle all your wild conspiracy theories no problem. Still not good enough? Ask him in IRC for his phone number and call him up and talk to the guy. He also has a public email address which you already know about.

The guy opened himself up to IRC flogging and all we get are some more wimpy accusations from a web forum? Come on, that is the best you critics can do? Come to IRC and show us what you are made of.


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CodeSmith 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 24-Jul-2006 3:30:02
#36 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 8-Mar-2003
Posts: 3045
From: USA

@ssolie

OK, I am apparently not getting through. Let me spell it out:

1. I believe Adam, as I have posted before. I've seen and heard enough that I believe that he's at least working in good faith.

2. However, what I believe in doesn't matter in the slightest because I'm not in a position to advance the amiga. The most I can do to "help the cause" is to buy one. Which I have, a 933MHz G4. I've also stated my intent to buy a PV LT as soon as they come out (the TL will have to wait until my either my XE dies, or the TL is at least 50% faster than the XE). Search this website, it's all here.

3. Adam can post stuff in IRC until the cows come home, and it won't *prove* anything. At this moment in time, ACK is as faith-based as the Roman Catholic Church. You either believe in the existence of boards, or you don't; there is no proof that anything is happening. Without this, people will eventually get bored and leave.

BTW, What exactly are you planning on doing to me on IRC anyway? beat me over the head with an asterisk?

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ChrisH 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 24-Jul-2006 9:30:27
#37 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 30-Jan-2005
Posts: 6679
From: Unknown

Very eloquently explained CodeSmith! I also hope (and suspect) that ACK's stuff is real (*), however I am objective enough to know that nothing has actually been demonstrated yet (same for Troika), that ALL potentional demonstrations of proof have been cancelled at the last minute (same for Troika), and that all we have to rely on are a lot of nice-sounding words (same for Troika).

When we have been abused as much as we have been in the Amiga market (by the overly-optimisitic, the incompetant, and the hoaxers), I find it madness to put *blind* faith in someone - however nice & believable they seem, and however much I may want them to be both true & competant.

It is a pity that those who do put blind faith in ACK (or Troika) cannot understand the position or the requests of those who do not, and in stead try to cast them as evil-doers & trolls. Note that although I don't understand the blind faith, that doesn't mean I go about saying (or thinking) how evil or stupid those people are - I just put forward my views, and hope people make-up their own mind.

(*) I also once thought that Troika's stuff was real, but now I don't. I am supposed to NOT learn from my mistakes???

Last edited by ChrisH on 24-Jul-2006 at 10:14 AM.
Last edited by ChrisH on 24-Jul-2006 at 10:11 AM.


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ChrisH 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 24-Jul-2006 9:36:34
#38 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 30-Jan-2005
Posts: 6679
From: Unknown

@Desler who said Quote:
It wasnt ACK who posted this news item.

I know that. You kind of missed the point: By only discussing stuff on IRC, Adam is effectively forcing all information about his work to be rumour & hear-say, because it does not come directly from him.

I do not see ANY advantage (only disadvantages) in this IRC-only approach, except that Adam may manage to avoid there being any permanent record of what he says, so that no-one can say "you broke your promise" (is that really a good thing?). Personally I would hope he has enough confidence in his capabilities to know when he CAN make promises that he can keep, or we might as well give-up & go home now.

Last edited by ChrisH on 24-Jul-2006 at 09:38 AM.


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Jeffshepherd 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 24-Jul-2006 23:17:23
#39 ]
Regular Member
Joined: 17-Jan-2005
Posts: 333
From: Unknown

@deakmann,

Spot on!!!!

Quote:
I`m sure as an enthusiatic developer it`s easy to underestimate the scale of the challenge when producing new hardware or software for that matter just
look at OS4.


And even the mighty Microsoft with their many billions has to delay product launches because they cant always complete them on time.

Jeff

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polka. 
Re: ACK CPU Module Design Rationale
Posted on 25-Jul-2006 13:38:19
#40 ]
Super Member
Joined: 13-Oct-2005
Posts: 1820
From: Tortuga

Quote:
And even the mighty Microsoft with their many billions has to delay product launches because they cant always complete them on time.


At least in the case of Microsoft, there are no doubts about the existence of the final product.
We have seen early photographs and a free beta-programm which allows everyone to test-run Vista without any costs.
In the case of ACK and especially Troika, there _are_ doubts. So why not destroying at least most of these doubts and FUD by posting some photographs? This doesn't even take 5 minutes.
Since I believe Troika would have immediately posted photos if they only _could_ (heck, they even made fuzzy photos of the RAM they purchased), the only reason I can think of is that they still simply don't have anything to show.


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